How the hell have I put on so much weight?

[Howtheheck365]

Seriously freaking out and depressed here. I’ve always managed to maintain a healthy weight, on the slim side (I’m about 5’5 and my ideal weight is usually about 8.5stone but edges up a pound or 2 every now and then.

Throughout lockdown I’ve tried to remain eating healthily, trying to walk a lot, keep my steps up. Particularly the last month I’ve tried to give myself a bit of a kick and I’ve been tracking my calories and my steps. I’m missing the gym but that’s not the end of the world.

To my horror over the last week or so I have gradually gone up by about 4lbs and I cannot for the life of me think how or why. I’ve been walking more and trying to eat healthily with the odd treat.

Please don’t say ‘oh god that’s still so slim’ etc because proportionately this is a lot of weight to gain in a short time.

I’ve taken a pregnancy test! And I had my implant out a couple of weeks ago - could this have impacted it?

So so depressed I’m just worried my weight is going to carry on going up uncontrollably and without any clear reason why I am panicking.

@FartingNora

I can "gain" 4lbs in a day. I'm currently calorie counting and exercising so logic dictates that I should be losing weight - and I am. Yesterday I weighed 145lbs but I know throughout the week ahead this will fluctuate up even though I continue to eat at a deficit. It's usually water retention caused by too much salt, a hard or long workout or hormones.

Drinking more water usually helps. I weigh daily so am used to seeing the changes. Don't worry about it. If it keeps creeping up then you're eating more than you realize and can act accordingly.

I go up and down by at least 7 pounds when my period is due.

I sound like a massive heifer compared to OP, but I am 5ft 6, and weigh between ten and ten and a half stone - fine for my height BMI-wise.

I usually weigh myself once a week, but since lockdown have been weighing daily. The fluctuations are astonishing, and my weight has gone between ten stone one, and ten stone five in a day, then back the next day. I probably average ten stone two if I was numerically minded.

There is no way I am gaining and losing four pounds of fat in a day. I doubt you have truly gained that either, OP.

4lb. Just shy of 2 litres of water.

Up your water intake for a few days so you can minimise the chances of it being water retention then weigh again.

And please, please look at ways to support yourself (or get support) to develop a healthier outlook on weight. 4lbs is not a lot of weight, especially if you know you haven't over eaten. It is much more likely to be normal body fluctuations and should be viewed as such unless it continues or you have other signs of there being something unusual going on.

My metabolism slowed in my 30s considerably, before then I could eat anything I wanted and in huge quantities and remain a steady 8 stone.

Honestly I understand the issue. I tipped over into a new stone bracket recently and I was horrified. It's only an extra couple of pounds but I've never been that weight before.

On the other hand, I used the loo recently and when I weighed myself had lost 3 lb. so you could just be bunged up

It is likely to be bloating from hormonal change. Lots of water is good for flushing out (and helps any constipation)

As a slim shorty, 4lb of bloating makes a difference between looking quite lean anf triggering pregnancy rumours. Most of my pregnancy rumours started just after lunch

I'm currently half a stone more than I need or like to be as my morning weight. I can still fit in my size 8-10s, but they are full and looking bulgy. I'm egarly looking forwards to the return to school so I can sort my diet out and eat lovely salads and stirfry that the DCs shun.

And yes I used MyFitnessPal food diary to lose two stone a few years ago. Back on it now. Wouldn't recommend for anyone who easily fixates on calories but great for checking what you're actually ingesting (you'd be surprised - one lemon Ginger pot is 400 calories!)

Gu* not ginger

I use myfitnesspal as a log really for tracking what I’m eating and what nutrients etc I’m having.
Is this a new thing because of the 4lb or is this something you’ve been doing for a while? Because I’m not sure that someone with such an extreme reaction to 4lb should be monitoring their food intake daily.

4lbs or 4st?

Seriously, and I'll try to say this as nicely as possibly (as I assume you have disordered eating).... are you fucking kidding? 4lbs is a big poo for some people.

I despair of MN and the amount of posters who have seriously fucked up views to food and weight!!

@AriettyHomily

Have you got a. History of ED? Your reaction seems rather extreme.

It could be anything - water retention, hormonal bloat etc or you could have eaten a shed load. You need to eat 500kc a day for a week to gain a pound. Have you eaten 2000 extra calories a day for a week to gain 4lb?

Weight is not linear, it fluctuates.

Agree. Would suggest speaking with your GP.

Hope you feel better about it soon (4 pounds really aren’t much).

Thanks everyone for the comments - I have calmed down somewhat since this morning, I think just the shock of seeing I had tipped significantly into the 9 stone bracket upset me (I realise that is still healthy and I am certainly not shaming anyone who weighs more than that!)

I’ve been having a really hectic time at work so probably haven’t been drinking enough water really - too much tea and coffee etc so will try to increase my water intake and hopefully see a reduction in bloating.

I’ve had my implant out as mentioned before and so am off hormonal contraception for the first time in about 15 years so I suppose I have to expect some physical effects to that.

To those saying I need to get a grip etc., I know I do, and I’ve never been one to fixate on food a huge amount but I do know I’ve been worse during the pandemic, probably as it’s something I can try and control??

Rather than the actual amount it’s the fact I went sure what was causing it. If I had been on holiday or had Christmas or another indulgent period I would think ‘oh well, I need to get back on track’ but it’s the fact I had actually been making an effort.

@annabel1001 I’ve never used a paper one - myfitnesspal calculates the calories and nutrients automatically and if you link it to a Fitbit it recognises any exercise you’ve done.

@BlueSlice for a while and I’ve used it to lose a few lbs when I’ve crept up so I was trying again during lockdown but obv have found its gone the opposite way!

Your worried about putting on 4lbs! I'm sorry but you must have an eating disorder if your so concerned about this, it's not good for your mental health. Can understand if it was 4 stone but 4lbs, dear god.

I've lost a stone but put on 2lbs but I need a poo so will probably lose it when been to the loo!